Coltart in last-ditch bid to keep card in Mallorca

MALLORCA, Spain, Oct 24 (Reuters) Former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart joins the cluster of players trying to keep their playing cards in this week's Mallorca Classic, the final tournament to count.

While world number 10 Sergio Garcia and Swede Niclas Fasth bid to add to their winning records, Briton Coltart can secure his playing rights for next year two ways.

A top-three finish on Sunday would haul the Scot from 169th on the money list, but his better bet is to finish at least 12th and retain his card through the all-time money list, on which he lies 41st, one place from safety.

''If I don't make it then hopefully I can win tour school and start things all over again,'' Coltart, twice a tour winner, told reporters today.

''I'd rather the fresh start was here rather than go to tour school. I've always tried to improve but things haven't worked out.'' Coltart, who has held a card since 1993, is hoping for more of the form that earned him a Ryder Cup place eight years ago and which saw him equal the European Tour record of 27 strokes for nine holes in the August Dutch Open.

''Holland is an example of what I'm capable of. I know I can play. We all have a certain amount of self belief, some more so than others,'' said the 37-year-old.

''I don't see any reason for being in the position I'm in.

''I want to get back into the top 10 in Europe, try and get into the top 50 in the world and a second Ryder Cup appearance would be fantastic. I still harbour plenty of ambitions, I'm not past it yet.'' Italian Alessandro Tadini holds 118th spot on the European money list, the final qualifying spot.